Raleigh Christmas Parade-Friday Family Fun Day

It's almost "The most wonderful time of the year!" Start kicking Christmas off a little early this weekend if you are in the Raleigh-Durham area. Check out the ever popular Raleigh Christmas Parade in downtown Raleigh. It begins Saturday, November 20th at about 9:30 am. It lasts approximately 2.5 hours, and the weather forecast is absolutely perfect for a parade. It is boasting the 66th annual parade. Wow!

And how's this for some fame: "Join us for the largest Christmas Parade between Washington, DC and Atlanta." How awesome is that? The parade ends at the state capitol! This parade features all kinds of awesome things you would love in a parade, highlighted by the big fancy balloons you get to experience in something like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Bundle up a little in the am, and then shed the layers as the beautiful day (forecast) unfolds. What a great way to have some family fun, at a great time of year! If you can't make it in person, it is on WRAL-TV from 10am-12pm, and is also re-broadcast on Christmas Day! What a great tradition! Check out the 2010 Raleigh Christmas Parade for more information.

How about you, do you have a favorite Christmas event or Christmas parade? Hope to see you out there this weekend.

Until next Friday Family Fun Day,

Until next Family Friday Fun,
Boulder Mountain Man

Photograph of the parade last year from the website for last years parade.

America Recycles Day

Ok, how did I almost miss 11-15-2010, or whatever year since 1997 is America Recycles Day! Perfect timing, I was just going around the house to gather the recyclables, as tomorrow is trash/recycle day. I am very grateful that about 2 years ago or so, our town in NC delivered a recycle bin. My family and I fill that bin up every 2 weeks, and take it to the curb to be picked up. So in all honesty, I am just doing what I would normally do. I love timing like that!!
I love that Jack Johnson song, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! So appropriate! Find out how you can make some simple changes in your neighborhood, and find out what products are recyclable so you can also be more environmentally friendly.

Check out this awesome website... for some great links & ideas! America Recycles Day

Game Night - Family Friday Fun Day

Tonight, instead of going out or having movie night, have a game night instead! This is a great way for family interaction and a great way to teach the kids how to both win and lose graciously. There are many great options. Board games, card games, strategy games.

Not video games, mind you. We love movies and video games, but there is a lot less interaction with these avenues. A fun way to spend time together at home on the weekend is to have one weekend night as a movie night. The other night or maybe a Saturday afternoon, play some board games. Try it one weekend. We obviously cannot do both every weekend, but it this a great way to have fun a little differently. They say variety is the spice of life.

I find myself wanting to spend a little more time at home instead of constantly being on the run. It seems we just get busier and busier as the children are growing up right under our noses. Have a fireplace? Sit in front of the fire and play the games! Have some hot apple cider or your favorite cup of tea while playing.

What are some of your favorite games to play? There are so many great ones to chose from!

Until next Friday Family Fun Day,

Until next Family Friday Fun,
Boulder Mountain Man

Friday Family Fun Day

This Friday Family Fun Day, we're going local again to the Duke Chapel.
Going to the Duke Chapel is like stepping into another time and another world. This entire area of the Duke University Campus is built European style. They don't build them like this anymore, folks. We have not been in a while, but anytime is a good time to see this amazing architectural masterpiece.

The attention to every detail is absolutely amazing, not just at the chapel, but in the surrounding buildings as well. You could spend hours looking at even the smallest details, because they are so very prevalent throughout this area of campus. I will talk another time about the Sarah P Duke Gardens, which are literally right next door. You truly need a full day to appreciate them both if seeing both the same day. That is the wonderful thing about living near there, you can break it up and take it all in at different times.

If you ever get a chance to hear any kind of music in the chapel, it is simply amazing. One tip, there are many weddings there, so if you are really wanting to see the inside of the chapel, and your aren't from the area, you may want to find out their schedule so you can adjust yours accordingly.

Writing about it is making me long to get back there, as well as the gardens. Being an Architectural Engineering major, I truly appreciate every little detail about all the buildings on this part of campus. These small pictures do not bring this building and those around it justice, you must experience this for yourself!

The weather is supposed to be spectacular this weekend, so whatever you do, try to get out and get some fresh air! Big plans for you? Let me hear from you some of your favorite spots.

Until next Friday Family Fun Day,

Until next Family Friday Fun,
Boulder Mountain Man

Green Acre Farm - Friday Family Fun

This weekend I am letting those of you in the Raleigh-Durham area know about Green Acre Farm in Cary, NC. This is one awesome corn maze. They have all kinds of activities for the entire family.

Included in the $8 entry fee is the corn maze of course, hay rides and bouncy action for the kids. This is a wonderful place to spend a fall day. What is really great about it si the fact that it is so close to Raleigh-Durham. If you don't have the time to go to the "true" country, this is a great way to be in the "country" even though it is surrounded by regular city.

We want to make Green Acre Farms a part of our fall tradition. Check it out today, don't miss it. They are open (I should have posted this earlier) from September to October 31. You can grab your pumpkins there also. You can also get some very nice Christmas trees during that season as well.

You still can get out over the next couple of weeks. Hope you can break away from some of that fun football to get some fresh area.

Until next Family Friday Fun,
Boulder Mountain Man

Harpers Ferry Family Fun Day

This week we're going to Harper's Ferry, West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia! 3 states in less than an hour's time! This is a very quaint, historically rich town that we really just ended up there one Saturday as we were enjoying a country drive outside of Northern Virginia. It is a peaceful place, with some awesome shops, restaurants, and lots of history.

Anytime of year is great, but if you can do it in the fall when the leaves are changing that is when I recommend the most. It happens to also be the beginning (or end) of the nationally renowned Shenandoah National Park with Skyline Drive as a highlight for the fall! We never did make Skyline Drive, but I have heard it is a must see.

So, if time permits you need to spend 2-3 days in the area taking in the breathtaking scenery and then enjoying the awesome history of our country.

Did you know that President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed legislation creating Harpers Ferry National Monument on June 29, 1944!

How about you, is it fall weather yet in your neck of the woods? Big plans this weekend, or is it time to watch your favorite football team?

Until next Family Friday Fun,
Boulder Mountain Man

NC State "Green" Golfing Green

Today for Family Friday Fun Day, we are in North Carolina, NC State. Of all things to stumble upon in the Going Green World, we have golf courses that are going green! The Lonnie Poole Golf Course at NC State University is an amazing new innovation that takes Reduce, Reuse, Recycle to a new level!

What a great concept: A high class golf course that is environmentally friendly, with further research on how to implement "Green" greens at other resorts! If you are in the Raleigh, NC area to golf, you need to come check this innovative course out. Swing in the Lonnie Poole Golf Course at NC State University today, and enjoy golf at a new level.

Do you like to golf? Let me know how golfing on an environmentally friendly golf course goes for you. It's cooling down in our area, how about yours? It looks like a great weekend for golf!

Until next Family Friday Fun,
Boulder Mountain Man